COLLEGE PARK, Md. – After winning a pair of games away from home last week, Maryland returns to Comcast Center to start an eight-game homestand when it takes on Maryland Eastern Shore Wednesday night. The Terps have won all 15 previous meetings with the Hawks.

Storyline

• Led by Dez Wells, the Terps won at Northwestern in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge, and vs. George Mason in the BB&T Classic last week. Wells set career highs in each game, scoring 23 points at Northwestern before pouring in 25 vs. Mason. The sophomore connected on 20 of 28 shots (.714) in those two games and is now shooting 54.2 percent on the season, which ranks second among ACC guards and fifth overall.

• Though Wells led Maryland in scoring in back-to-back games, the Terps have relied upon a multitude of scoring options this season. Five different players have led Maryland in scoring in a game, and three are averaging double-figure scoring: Alex Len (14.7 ppg), Wells (13.9 ppg) and Nick Faust (11.0 ppg).

• Maryland’s biggest advantages have come in rebounding margin, assists and field goal percentage defense. In all seven games, the Terps have outrebounded their opponent, and they rank second nationally with a plus-17.0 rebounding margin.Pe’Shon Howard leads the league with 6.7 assists per game, and as a team Maryland ranks second in the league and t-9th nationally with 18.0 per game. The Terps have held their opponent under 35 percent shooting in three straight games, and on the season lead the league and rank 24th nationally by holding opponents to a .364 mark from the field.

• Len ranks sixth in the ACC in rebounding (9.0 pg) and leads the league with 2.6 blocks per game. Last week, he had a double-double at Northwestern with 13 points and 13 rebounds, and was one rebound shy of another vs. George Mason, finishing with 12 points and 9 boards.

Quick Hitters• In Maryland’s six-game winning streak, the Terps have assisted on 109 of 165 field goals (66.1 percent)

• A different player led Maryland in scoring in the first five games of the current winning streak. Nick Faust had 12 vs. Morehead State, Seth Allen had 19 vs. LIU Brooklyn, Alex Len had 16 vs. Lafayette, Charles Mitchell had 13 vs. Georgia Southern, and Dez Wells had 23 vs. Northwestern. Wells broke that steak by following up his 23-point perfromance at Northwestern with 25 vs. George Mason.

• The Terps have made more free throws than the opponent has attempted this season (116 to 104).

• At least eight players have scored in six of Maryland’s seven games this year. The exception is vs. George Mason, when just seven players scored.

Super Subs

• Maryland’s bench has been an asset all season, as the Terps’ non-starters have outscored the opponents non-starters in five of seven games (exceptions are Kentucky & George Mason).

• On the year, Maryland’s bench has a 170-92 advantage over the opponent. The biggest advantage Maryland has had this season was against LIU Brooklyn, when the Terps had a 36-0 advantage.

• Aronhalt is the long-range specialist. He hit all four of his 3-point attempts vs. Georgia Southern and made 3 of 5 at Northwestern.

Sophomore Jump

• After averaging 6.0 points and 5.4 rebounds per game as a freshman, Alex Len has developed into Maryland’s most consistent scoring threat as a sophomore. Len is averaging 14.7 points per game, which ranks first in the ACC among centers and ninth overall. His 9.0 rebounds per game rank sixth. Len also leads the league with 2.6 blocks per game. He has two double-doubles this season: against Kentucky (23 & 12) and Northwestern (13 & 13).

More on Assists
• Pe’Shon Howard, who leads the ACC with 6.7 assists per game, would be in some rare company if he stays on his current pace. In the past 25 years, just three players have averaged more than 6.0 assists per game at Maryland: Terrell Stokes in 1998-99, Steve Blake from 1999-2003, and Greivis Vasquez in 2007-08 and 2009-10.

• Maryland’s 28 assists against LIU Brooklyn were nine more than the team’s season-high of 19 last year. In fact, the last time a Maryland team had more assists in a game was in the 2002-03 season, when the Terps had 29 on two occasions. The Terps also had 28 assists in a game on 2/9/11 vs. Longwood and 12/31/05 vs. VMI. The school record for assists in a game is 37.

• Howard’s 13 assists vs. LIU Brooklyn are tied for the fourth-most in a single game by a Terp. The only better performances are: Greivis Vasquez (2008) and Terrell Stokes (1998) with 15; and Steve Blake (2002) and Terrell Stokes (1996) with 14.

Force on the Boards

• Maryland leads the Atlantic Coast Conference and ranks second nationally in rebounding margin at plus-17.0 per game. The only team in the nation with a better margin is Colorado State (plus-17.3).

• The Terps have built advantages on the boards in all seven games this season. Against Northwestern, Maryland built a 47-19 advantage on the boards, the largest margin this season.

• Alex Len and Charles Mitchell are the biggest factors in that; Len averages 9.0 rpg and Mitchell averages 7.0. Len ranks sixth in the conference and Mitchell is tied for 13th, including first among freshmen.

• Len leads the conference with 3.9 offensive rebounds per game, and Mitchell is just outside the top 10 with 2.7 per game. As a team, the Terps are averaging 16.4 offensive rebounds per game, second in the league behind North Carolina (17.0).

• Mitchell made an impressive debut by grabbing 10 rebounds in his first career game, against No. 3 Kentucky. That’s the most rebounds by a Maryland freshman in his debut since Buck Williams had 13 against Bucknell in 1978. Williams went on to lead the ACC in rebounding that year (10.8 pg) en route to capturing ACC Rookie of the Year honors.

COLLEGE PARK, Md. – Maryland travels to downtown Washington, D.C., to play in the 18th annual BB&T Classic, benefiting the Children’s Charities Foundation. The Terrapins take on George Mason in the second game of a doubleheader, with George Washington and Manhattan tipping off at 12:15 p.m. in the opener.

Storyline

• Maryland has played in each edition of the BB&T Classic and comes to Verizon Center this year with a 15-11 record all-time in the event. The Terps topped Notre Dame 78-71 last year to snap a two-game losing streak in the BB&T. Since the tournament went to a single-day format in 2004, the Terps are 3-5. Maryland has faced George Mason once in the event, a 78-54 Terrapin win in 2004. All-time, Maryland leads the series with George Mason 7-0.

• Depth, rebounding and an ability to ride the hot hand has helped Maryland win five straight games. Nine players are averaging double-figure minutes, and the Terps lead the ACC with a plus-17.3 rebounding margin per game. In the five-game winning streak, a different player has led the team in scoring in each contest. Most recently, Dez Wells poured in a career-high 23 points to lead Maryland to a 77-57 victory over Northwestern in the ACC-Big Ten Challenge.

• Alex Len recorded his second double-double of the year against the Wildcats by grabbing 13 points and 13 rebounds. Len leads the team in scoring (15.2 ppg), rebounding (9.0 rpg) and blocks (2.5 bpg). Pe’Shon Howard, Maryland’s active career leader in assists (199), has been a solid distributor with his 6.8 assists per game leading the league. As a team, Maryland is averaging 18.7 assists per game, which also leads the league. In the five-game winning streak, the Terps have assisted on 95 of 143 field goals (66.4 percent).

Quick Hitters• A different player has led Maryland in scoring in the last five games. Nick Faust had 12 vs. Morehead State, Seth Allen had 19 vs. LIU Brooklyn, Alex Len had 16 vs. Lafayette, Charles Mitchell had 13 vs. Georgia Southern, and Dez Wells had 23 vs. Northwestern.

• The Terps have made more free throws than the opponent attempted this season (93 to 86). The biggest margins are against Morehead State, when the Terps made 17 and the Eagles attempted 8, and against Lafayette, when Maryland made 22 and Lafayette attempted 7.

• At least eight players have scored in each of the last five games, and at least five players scored in double figures against Lafayette and Georgia Southern.

• Nine players have received at least 10 minutes of playing time for five straight games, and nine players are averaging double-figure minutes.

Super Subs

• Since being outscored by Kentucky’s bench in the season opener, the Maryland bench has outscored its opponents 147-42 over the past five contests. In those four games, the biggest contributors have been Seth Allen (7.2 ppg), Shaquille Cleare (7.0 ppg) and Charles Mitchell (6.8 ppg)

• Logan Aronhalt has found his shooting stroke off the bench recently. He hit all four of his 3-point attempts vs. Georgia Southern and made 3 of 5 at Northwestern.

Sophomore Jump

• After averaging 6.0 points and 5.4 rebounds per game as a freshman, Alex Len has developed into Maryland’s most consistent scoring threat as a sophomore. Len is averaging 15.2 points per game, which ranks first in the ACC among centers and tied for ninth overall. His 9.0 rebounds per game rank fifth. Len also leads the league with 2.5 blocks per game. He has two double-doubles this season: against Kentucky (23 & 12) and Northwestern (13 & 13).

Force on the Boards

• Maryland leads the Atlantic Coast Conference in rebounding margin at plus-17.3 per game, the only school averaging a double-figure margin. North Carolina is second at plus-6.9.

• The Terps have built advantages on the boards in all six games this season. Against Northwestern, Maryland built a 47-19 advantage on the boards, the largest margin this season.
Alex Len and Charles Mitchell are the biggest factors in that; Len averages 9.0 rpg and Mitchell averages 7.2. Len ranks fifth in the conference and Mitchell ranks 12th, including first among freshmen.

• Len leads the conference with 3.8 offensive rebounds per game, and Mitchell is tied for seventh with 3.0 per game. As a team, the Terps are averaging 17.0 offensive rebounds per game, second in the league behind North Carolina (17.7).

• Mitchell made an impressive debut by grabbing 10 rebounds in his first career game, against No. 3 Kentucky. That’s the most rebounds by a Maryland freshman in his debut since Buck Williams had 13 against Bucknell in 1978. Williams went on to lead the ACC in rebounding that year (10.8 pg) en route to capturing ACC Rookie of the Year honors.
Two of the better rebounders in recent memory, Joe Smith and Jordan Williams, didn’t reach double-digit boards until their third and fourth games, respectively.

EVANSTON, Ill. – Maryland hits the road for the first time in the 2012-13 season when it takes on Northwestern as part of the ACC/Big Ten Challenge Tuesday night in Evanston, Ill. Following a season-opening, 72-69 loss to then-No. 3 Kentucky in the Barclays Center Classic in Brooklyn, N.Y., the Terps have reeled off four straight wins in which they have won by an average margin of 16.3 points per game.

Storyline

• The Terps are 9-4 all-time in the Challenge, though a 71-62 loss to Illinois last season snapped a six-game winning streak in the Challenge. Tuesday will mark the first meeting between Maryland and Northwestern in the Challenge and just the second all-time; the only other meeting was a 66-62 Northwestern win in 1958.

• Depth has been a luxury for Maryland in its first five games, as nine players are averaging double-figure minutes. Five players scored in double figures in each of the last two games, and Alex Len, Nick Faust, Dez Wells and James Padgett are averaging at least 9.0 points per game. Len is Maryland’s most consistent scorer with a 15.6 average that is tied for 10th in the ACC.

• Against Georgia Southern, Charles Mitchell, who has been a force on the boards, recorded his first career double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds. Mitchell (7.8 rpg) and Len (8.2 rpg) have led Maryland to a plus-15.2 rebound margin that is the best in the conference. No other team is outrebounding the opponent by a double-figure margin.

• Pe’Shon Howard, Maryland’s active career leader in assists (193), has been a solid distributor with his 7.0 assists per game leading the league. As a team, Maryland is averaging 19.4 assists per game, which also leads the league. In the four-game winning streak, the Terps have assisted on 80 of 114 field goals (70.2 percent).

Quick Hitters• The Terps have made more free throws than the opponent attempted this season (79 to 64). The biggest margins are against Morehead State, when the Terps made 17 and the Eagles attempted 8, and against Lafayette, when Maryland made 22 and Lafayette attempted 7.

• At least nine players have scored in each of the last four games, and at least five players have scored in double figures in each of the last two games.

• Nine players have received at least 10 minutes of playing time for four straight games, and nine players are averaging double-figure minutes.

• Maryland’s 22-point margin of victory over Morehead State matched its largest in all of last season (vs. Samford).

Super Subs

• Since being outscored by Kentucky’s bench in the season opener, the Maryland bench has outscored its opponents 124-35 over the past four contests. In those four games, the biggest contributors have been Seth Allen (8.3 ppg), Charles Mitchell (7.3 ppg) and Shaquille Cleare (7.3 ppg).

• After averaging 6.0 points and 5.4 rebounds per game as a freshman, Alex Len has developed into Maryland’s most consistent scoring threat as a sophomore. Len is averaging 15.6 points per game, which ranks first in the ACC among centers and tied for 10th overall. His 8.2 rebounds per game rank ninth. Len also leads the league with 2.6 blocks per game.

Force on the Boards

• Maryland leads the Atlantic Coast Conference in rebounding margin at plus-15.2 per game, the only school averaging a double-figure margin. North Carolina is second at plus-9.2.

• The Terps have built advantages on the boards in all five games this season. Maryland outrebounded Kentucky 54-38, a plus-16 margin that marks the schools best performance against a ranked team since outrebounding No. 10 Wake Forest by a plus-20 margin on Feb. 17, 2003.

• Their largest margin on the boards was plus-24 vs. Georgia Southern (49-25). Alex Len and Charles Mitchell are the biggest factors in that; Len averages 8.2 rpg and Mitchell averages 7.8.

• Len ranks fourth in the conference with 3.4 offensive rebounds per game, and Mitchell is tied for sixth with 3.2 per game. As a team, the Terps are averaging 18.0 offensive rebounds per game, second in the league behind North Carolina (18.3).

• Mitchell made an impressive debut by grabbing 10 rebounds in his first career game, against No. 3 Kentucky. That’s the most rebounds by a Maryland freshman in his debut since Buck Williams had 13 against Bucknell in 1978. Williams went on to lead the ACC in rebounding that year (10.8 pg) en route to capturing ACC Rookie of the Year honors.

• Two of the better rebounders in recent memory, Joe Smith and Jordan Williams, didn’t reach double-digit boards until their third and fourth games, respectively.

COLLEGE PARK, Md. – Maryland looks for its fourth straight home win as Georgia Southern visits Comcast Center Saturday night. The Terps are playing their final home game before heading to Northwestern on Tuesday for the ACC-Big Ten Challenge, and then taking on George Mason at the Verizon Center as part of the BB&T Classic on Sunday, Dec. 2.

Storyline

• Another balanced effort helped Maryland beat Lafayette 83-74 on Tuesday, as five Terps scored in double figures. Alex Len led the way with 16, James Padgett had 14, Nick Faust had 13, Charles Mitchell had 12 and Dez Wells had 11. Faust also added eight rebounds, and Pe’Shon Howard dished out six assists. Howard is averaging an ACC-best 7.8 assists per game and has a 3.9 assist-to-turnover ratio.

• Len has led the way in scoring thus far, having averaged 17.0 points per game. The sophomore has scored in double figures in all four games and also leads the team in rebounding (8.5 pg) and blocks (3.0 pg), helping Maryland lead the league with 6.0 blocks per game. Padgett, Faust and Wells have also provided consistent scoring: all are averaging 10.5 points per game.

• The Terps have shown off great depth in the season’s first four games. Nine players are averaging double-digit minutes, and no player is averaging more than 29.0 minutes (Len). That’s helped enable the Terps to hold opponents to a .391 shooting percentage thus far. Meanwhile, Maryland is averaging 45.8 rebounds per game to just 32.8 for the opponent, a plus-13 margin that is second in the ACC behind only Georgia Tech (plus-17.3).

On Maryland’s Assists vs. LIU Brooklyn• Maryland’s 28 assists against LIU Brooklyn were nine more than the team’s season-high of 19 last year. In fact, the last time a Maryland team had more assists in a game was in the 2002-03 season, when the Terps had 29 on two occasions. The Terps also had 28 assists in a game on 2/9/11 vs. Longwood and 12/31/05 vs. VMI. The school record for assists in a game is 37.

• Pe’Shon Howard’s 13 assists are tied for the fourth-most in a single game by a Terp. The only better performances are:Greivis Vasquez (2008) and Terrell Stokes (1998) with 15; and Steve Blake (2002) and Terrell Stokes (1996) with 14.

Quick Hitters

• Maryland’s 22-point margin of victory over Morehead State matched its largest in all of last season (vs. Samford).

• The Terps have made more free throws than the opponent attempted this season (68 to 56). The biggest margins are against Morehead State, when the Terps made 17 and the Eagles attempted 8, and against Lafayette, when Maryland made 22 and UL attempted 7.

• The Terps showed off their depth against Morehead State – Alex Len logged the most minutes of any player with 24, and 10 players saw at least 13 minutes. That helped enable a strong defensive effort that held Morehead State to 31.7 percent shooting and just 7.1 percent from 3-point.

• At least nine players have scored in each of the last three games.

• Nine players have received at least 10 minutes of playing time for three straight games, and nine players are averaging double-figure minutes.

• With his 19 points, Seth Allen helped Maryland’s bench outscore LIU Brooklyn’s 36-0. All five players that came off the bench contributed: Shaquille Cleare had 8, Jake Layman had 4, Logan Aronhalt had 3 and Charles Mitchell had 2. Since being outscored by Kentucky’s bench in the season opener, the Maryland bench has outscored its opponents 87-26 over the past three contests.

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COLLEGE PARK, Md. – Maryland plays its final game of the Barclays Center Classic on Friday when LIU Brooklyn visits Comcast Center. The Terps are coming off a 67-45 win over Morehead State, which along with Kentucky and LIU Brooklyn made up the four-team field of the Classic.

Storyline

• A balanced scoring effort led Maryland to its 22-point victory over Morehead State, which marked the 36th consecutive home opener the Terps have won. Nick Faust scored a game-high 12 points and Alex Len added 11 points and seven rebounds. Of the 10 players who received double-digit minutes, nine of them scored and seven tallied six points or more.

• The Terps were also able to show off their depth against Morehead State – Len logged the most minutes of any player with 24, and 10 players saw at least 13 minutes. That helped enable a strong defensive effort that held Morehead State to 31.7 percent shooting and just 7.1 percent from 3-point. Meanwhile, Maryland responded from a 33.3 percent-shooting effort against Kentucky to shoot 48.9 percent against the Eagles, including a .609 mark in the second half.

• Len has been Maryland’s most impactful player early on, with averages of 17 points and 9.5 rebounds per game. The 7-foot-1 center has added more than 30 pounds of muscle to his frame since arriving at Maryland in addition to adding range to his jump shot, and he has a team-high seven blocks.

• Len is one of four key returnees from last season, along with senior James Padgett, junior Pe’Shon Howard and sophomore Nick Faust. Howard is averaging 6 assists per game, while Faust is second on the team in scoring at 11.5 points per game and Padgett is third at 9.5.

Quick Hitters• Maryland’s 22-point margin of victory over Morehead State matched its largest in all of last season (vs. Samford).

• After Morehead State cut Maryland’s lead to 10 points with 13:21 remaining, Maryland went on a 16-3 run over the next 5:28 to put the game out of reach. Six different players contributed a field goal to that run, including 3-pointers by Logan Aronhalt and Dez Wells.

• Maryland is outscoring its opponents by an average of 14.5 points per game when Alex Len is on the floor (plus-6 vs. Kentucky, plus-23 vs. Morehead State). Seth Allen is next highest at plus-9.0.

• Against Morehead State, the Terps made more free throws (17) than the Eagles attempted (8).

Who’s Next?

• Head coach Mark Turgeon and his staff signed a consensus top-20 recruiting class this season with freshmen Seth Allen, Shaquille Cleare, Jake Layman and Charles Mitchell.
The influx of talent gives Maryland the opportunity to extend a streak of being recognized for having talented young players in the program – for three years in a row, a Terp has been on the ACC All-Freshman Team. Prior to Nick Faust last year, Terrell Stoglin was honored in 2011 and Jordan Williams was honored in 2010.

Force on the Boards

• The Terps have built advantages on the boards in each of their first two games this season. Maryland outrebounded Kentucky 54-38, a plus-16 margin that marks the schools best performance against a ranked team since outrebounding No. 10 Wake Forest by a plus-20 margin on Feb. 17, 2003.

• Maryland outrebounded Morehead State, 40-32, and through two games is averaging a plus-12 margin on the boards. Alex Len and Charles Mitchell are the biggest factors in that, as each are averaging 9.5 rebounds per game.

• Len has nine offensive rebounds, Mitchell has eight and the Terps are averaging 21.5 offensive rebounds per game. North Carolina (23.0) is the only ACC school averaging more.
Mitchell made an impressive debut by grabbing 10 rebounds in his first career game, against No. 3 Kentucky. That’s the most rebounds by a Maryland freshman in his debut since Buck Williams had 13 against Bucknell in 1978. Williams went on to lead the ACC in rebounding that year (10.8 pg) en route to capturing ACC Rookie of the Year honors.
Two of the better rebounders in recent memory, Joe Smith and Jordan Williams, didn’t reach double-digit boards until their third and fourth games, respectively.

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There may be something cooking down at College Park and the pot is labeled Mens Maryland Basketball. Strap yourself in Terp fans, I think we are on the brink of a two year ride. It appears mens basketball is back at a high level in Terpland. Mark Turgeon has gathered quite a fistful of talent down there. His biggest challenge is going to be finding team chemistry. Predicament being, he may actually have two-fistfuls of talent.

Only four players left from Gary Williams recruitment crew – Padgett, Howard, Faust, Len. Add Turgeon recruits Mitchell, Allen, Layman, Cleare and addition of Dez Wells………..you have the recipe for a pretty good ball team. They are young. The only two legit upperclassmen “starters” are James Padgett (Sr.) and Pe’Shon Howard (Jr.). Tough to pick a starting five ………..and that’s a good thing. The addition of this Dez Wells cat was a surprise to me. Caught me off ex- Xavier “guard”. I wasn’t up on the potential of his acquisition. SO, last week when I heard of “The Decision” to let Wells play without sitting out a year and he was “available” for the Kentucky game – my first thought I cannot print, my second thought was – WOW, Terps have a shot.

Alex Len (Lenny), has turned into a beast. He has bulked up, appears he has strengthened and found his hands, his shot is smooth and he looks hungry……..watch out Mason Plumlee. Faust has followed suit. Johnny Holiday reported Faust was shooting 500 jumpers a day in the off season……..watch out ACC. Padgett brings intensity and experience. Pe’Shon looks like he may have to be the Mr. Reliable/settle things down guy. That’s if and when the Wells/Faust run and gun goes rampant. This Jake Layman young lad appears to be a shooter and Seth Allen can fly. Then there’s the addition of the two trees down low – “Baby Shaq” Cleare and this Charles “Barkley mold” Mitchell cat. Turgeon has 8 potential starters. It looks promising.

Did you see the Kentucky game? Ugly first half, except for Lenny. Lenny had an All-American performance, sophmore debut that night. The team almost came back. Encouraging second half – haven’t seen ball like that at Maryland in quite some time. Game tested comparison – Duke beat Kentucky last night, fairly handily – BOOOOOOO! Did you see the Morehead State game? Another rough start, then talent prevailed. Turgeon was trying to find that groove. It seemed as if every whistle there were at least two new guys coming in. Sometimes he was making 4-player substitutions. It is probably going to be that way up until January. Tough job – weeding out the talent that runs well together. Gee, nice problem to have, huh?

Terps who trotted – Terrell Who? That be – Stoglin. Smooth scorer, kept Terps alive at times last year……..not a fan of Mark Turgeons……see ya Terrell……..suspended or not. I believe his attempt at turning pro fell short. He may be headed to Europe. Ashton Pankey – I think he headed back up New York way, Manhattan College? Mychal Parker – could not find info. Turgeon is settling in. He has gathered and is molding some of these “blue chippers” to send out a message of a new force in the ACC.

I think this is “Only the Beginning” – Chicago. They are young. They are talented. As Turgeon said, “We are going to win some games.” When a coach says that – he doesn’t mean the low end of “some”, as in ten wins. The Coach is talking – we have a good chance to be a force. It is far to early to speculate, but let’s have fun and call it now…….Top 3 of ACC and onto the Sweet 16 this season. Final Four in 2013-14. They need a “go to” guy. They need the freshman beef (Mitchell and Cleare) to step up. They can’t lose Lenny. The pot is a brewin’ in Terpland and the recipe looks good.

COLLEGE PARK, Md. – After opening the season against defending national champion and third-ranked Kentucky at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y., Maryland opens the home portion of its schedule against Morehead State Monday night in Comcast Center. The game will be broadcast on the Regional Sports Network and can be seen locally on Comcast SportsNet.

Storyline

• The Terps nearly knocked off Kentucky, rallying from a 15-point deficit to take a lead in the second half, before the Wildcats held on for a 72-69 win. Alex Len had the best game of his career, pouring in 23 points on 10-of-18 shooting to go along with 12 rebounds and four blocks. Nick Faust added 11 points and Brooklyn native James Padgett had 10.

• Maryland returns four key players from last season’s 17-15 squad: in addition to Len, Faust and Padgett, Pe’Shon Howard, Maryland’s active career leader in assists, also returns. A freshman class that was ranked in the top 20 nationally gives Maryland depth and talent. Charles Mitchell had 10 rebounds in just 16 minutes against UK and Seth Allen played 25 minutes off the bench.

• Maryland also added two transfers who are eligible to play immediately in Dez Wells and Logan Aronhalt. Wells averaged 9.8 points per game and 4.9 rebounds per game for Xavier last year. Aronhalt is a proven scorer that netted 1,100 points in his career at Albany.

• Faust, a sophomore, is Maryland’s leading returning scorer. A member of the ACC All-Freshman Team a year ago, Faust averaged 8.9 points per game and was at his best at the end of the season, averaging 13.4 points per game over the final nine contests. Padgett, meanwhile, nearly tripled both his scoring (3.3 to 8.8 ppg) and rebounding (1.9 to 5.8 rpg) averages from his sophomore to junior seasons.

On Home Openers• Maryland has won 34 consecutive home openers, with the last loss in a home opener in an 80-79 overtime defeat to Notre Dame on 11/27/1976… Maryland is 74-17 (.813) all-time in home openers in College Park.

• Maryland defeated UNC Wilmington 71-62 in last year’s home/regular season opener. Among returning players, James Padgett led the way with 12 points on 6-of-7 shooting, along with seven rebounds

Who’s Next?

• Head coach Mark Turgeon and his staff signed a consensus top-20 recruiting class this season with freshmen Seth Allen, Shaquille Cleare, Jake Layman and Charles Mitchell.

The influx of talent gives Maryland the opportunity to extend a streak of being recognized for having talented young players in the program – for three years in a row, a Terp has been on the ACC All-Freshman Team. Prior to Nick Faust last year, Terrell Stoglin was honored in 2011 and Jordan Williams was honored in 2010.

Taking on the Defending Champ

It’s been a while since Maryland played its regular-season opener against the defending national champion – almost 29 years, in fact. The Terps last opened the season against the defending title holder on Sunday, Dec. 2, 1973, when they played UCLA. At that time, the Bruins had captured seven straight national championships and were in the midst of a 76-game winning streak. Maryland, coached by Lefty Driesell, fell to the Bruins 65-64 at Pauley Pavilion.

From the Washington Post’s recap of the game:

“Defending national champion UCLA needed a turnover forced by Bill Walton in the final seconds to survive a 65-64 thriller over Maryland tonight in Pauley Pavilion.

The Terrapins, who trailed by as many as 12 points earlier in the second half, had an opportunity to break the Bruins’ winning streak at 76 games after UCLA freshman Richard Washington, reputed to be last year’s best high school player, missed a foul shot with 22 seconds left. Tom McMillen grabbed the rebound.

After a time out, point guard John Lucas was forced into the right corner, where he was double-teamed. Walton batted the ball out of his hands and toward center court. Bruin teammate Tommy Curtis picked up the ball and was driving toward the Maryland basket when time ran out.”

Maryland went on to finish the season 23-5 and ranked No. 4 in the Associated Press poll. Before advancing to the National Semifinals later that year, UCLA had its winning streak snapped at 88 games in a loss to Notre Dame.

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COLLEGE PARK, Md. – The University of Maryland men’s basketball team plays its lone exhibition of the preseason when it hosts Indiana University (PA) this Friday at 7 p.m. It will also be streamed live on TerpsTV through umterps.com.

Season Outlook

With a year in College Park under his belt, a nationally-ranked recruiting class on campus and four key returnees to look to for leadership, head coach Mark Turgeon is excited and confident heading into the 2012-13 season.

Maryland, which went 17-15 last season, welcomes back four scholarship players in guards Pe’Shon Howard and Nick Faust, forward James Padgett and center Alex Len. A recruiting class rated in the top 20 nationally by analysts includes four-star prospects Shaquille Cleare, Jake Layman and Charles Mitchell, and three-star prospect Seth Allen. The addition of Albany transfer Logan Aronhalt gives the Terps yet another new player in the fold, but the group has meshed together quickly.

“I think the major strength of our team right now is our chemistry,” said Turgeon. “The guys are getting along well and liking each other. Another strength has been our effort. It has been great in the weight room, with conditioning, and individual work.

“There aren’t really any egos on the team. We have a great group of guys that listen and are eager to learn. Talent wise, our returning players have all gotten better and we’ve been getting what we’ve expected from all of the incoming players.”

The addition of so many newcomers – Maryland has nine of them – presents a challenge integrating them into the program. Though it seems there is a lack of veteran players, with only Howard and Padgett having played with the team for at least two seasons, Turgeon said the new NCAA rule allowing practices over the summer was incredibly important.

“The summer practices were critical,” he said. “We are so much further along now and I am a little more relaxed now then I have been in the past at this time. We’ve had close to 25 hours to practice and that has been huge for us.”

Those practices have afforded Turgeon the opportunity to evaluate his young but talented group. While the team battled a lack of depth at nearly every position last year, the Terps should have many more options in 2012-13.

“I think we have more talent than last year and we definitely have more depth,” said Turgeon. “Last year we had some really good players, but we just didn’t have enough of them. When Pe’Shon went down, we didn’t have enough players to step up and fill in for him. If he had stayed healthy we may have gotten to 20 wins. But this year our talent level is better, we are deeper, faster and stronger. If we stay healthy, we have depth at every position.”

Backcourt

Faust, Howard and Aronhalt represent Maryland’s most experienced players in the backcourt and will be counted upon to play major minutes and provide leadership. Faust, an All-ACC Freshman Team selection last year, had a strong second half of his rookie season. He averaged 13.4 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game over the final nine contests, including a season-high 19 in the ACC Tournament win over Wake Forest. For the year, Faust averaged 8.9 points per game while splitting time between point and shooting guard.

“Nick has really improved a lot,” said Turgeon. “He has been working hard on his jump shot and has improved that a lot. He is handling the ball much better and his decision-making has also gotten better. He is more unselfish than he was last year and I’m expecting him to be a great defender for us again this year.”

Staying healthy will be the key for Howard, who missed the first nine games last year with a broken bone in his foot and the final nine games after tearing the ACL in his right knee. In his 14 games, Howard averaged 6.5 points and 3.7 assists per game, and is expected to be healthy heading into this season.

“He worked his tail off all summer,” said Turgeon. “From the day he got hurt and started his rehab, he has had a positive attitude. He is going to be healthy when practice starts and I expect him to be so much better than last year. He has lost a lot of weight, he was at 205 pounds last year and he is down to 190 pounds right now. I think he looks better and is moving better than at any point last year.”

The experienced newcomer is Aronhalt, a transfer from Albany who is eligible to play this year because he already earned his undergraduate degree. Aronhalt had a decorated career at Albany, starting 73 games in three years while averaging 11.8 points per game and shooting 35.1 percent from 3-point range.

“Logan is a big-time shooter with a great feel for the game,” said Turgeon. “He is a proven scorer at the Division I level and he is healthy now. He wasn’t very healthy last year, but I think he’s getting healthier and should be a big asset for us.” Allen, a freshman from Woodbridge, Va., has the potential to be a dynamic scorer with his ability to get to the rim and shoot. He averaged over 20 points per game as a senior in leading Fredericksburg Christian School to a 31-2 record.

“He is an explosive scorer, but the game is moving too fast for him right now. He is a better defender than I anticipated; I think he’s going to be a great on-ball defender and a great team defender for us. He’s a big-time athlete and can cover a lot of ground.”

Frontcourt

Maryland’s frontcourt lacked depth last season, but a year later is now loaded with it. Padgett and Len are the returnees, while the addition of Cleare, Mitchell and Layman provide bulk and versatility.

Padgett is the elder statesman among the group, having played in 91 career games. The improvement the Brooklyn native made in a year under Turgeon – increasing his scoring average from 3.3 to 8.8 and his rebounding average from 1.9 to 5.8 – was clear. Now, Turgeon says, he’s ready to step into a leadership role.

“James has really worked hard to change his body and has put on about 15 pounds of muscle. He also worked on his leadership skills. James is a really good low post scorer and very good rebounder. He is much more confident even though he played with confidence last year. He has become a much better defender, especially an on-ball defender.”

Len, though, has perhaps made the most significant offseason improvement. He’s put on 30 pounds of muscle and improved his game in the low post, where Turgeon expects him to be much more comfortable and productive this season.

“Alex has worked as hard as anyone I have been ever around to improve from one year to the next. He is much tougher, more confident and his low post game is much better. We hope to let him shoot some threes because he is really shooting the ball well, so we are going to incorporate that into what we are doing with him. He is just a hard worker, and he has a large presence at the rim.”

The newcomers give Maryland a dynamic in the low post it didn’t possess a year ago. Cleare, at 6-foot-9 and 265 pounds, and Mitchell, at 6-foot-8 and 260 pounds, have the size and talent level to be instant contributors.

“Shaq is playing above the rim, and he really looks good, looking more athletic than I ever thought he could be. He is a low post scorer and a good defender. He has a lot of God given ability and he is a great kid. I can only see him getting better every day.

“Charles is a beast, he likes to be coached and he likes to work hard. He can score in a variety of ways, and he is really good on the low block which is really extending his game. He is a great passer and a really good rebounder. You are going to watch this kid really improve as the year goes on.”

Layman, at 6-foot-8, will play mostly small forward but has the ability to play power forward if necessary. The four-star prospect is an excellent shooter and spent the summer honing his game with the USA team that won the gold medal at the FIBA Americas U18 Championship.

“Jake can really shoot the ball,” said Turgeon. “He has got a lot of game and can shoot the 3-pointers. He has got a lot of range so we can use him in a variety of ways. His passing is doing much better than I thought, and I think Jake can be a great defender.”

John Auslander, who appeared in 14 games last year, is a smart player who will provide depth off the bench.

“I am really happy John can be back on scholarship this year, good for him,” said Turgeon. “He has a lot of respect in the locker room, and I am really expecting a lot from him on the floor. He does whatever I ask him to do, and he will be a leader on the second team and the scout team. In the paint he will always be ready to help us just like he did last year.”

Michigan transfer Evan Smotrycz will be a valuable practice player and the Terps are awaiting a decision on whether Xavier transfer Dez Wells will be eligible to play in 2012-13.

“One of the reasons we have been successful getting transfers is because we have a blueprint for them to improve,” said Turgeon. “In Evan’s case it really helped him change his body and become a better athlete. He has got to lead for us because he has been to the NCAA tournament twice and he is going to be a big part of helping our new guys in practice because he is really hard to guard. “It is going to be great having him out there.

“Dez is a tremendous athlete, a tremendous defender and competitor as well. He is a much better passer than I was thinking I was getting. He is also a much better leader and team guy than I thought I was getting. He is really explosive and gets the ball to the rim. He is a one-man fast break, and I knew he was good but he is even better than I was anticipating. He has a chance to be great.”

Walk-ons

Maryland has four walk-ons in Spencer Barks, Conner Lipinski, Varun Ram and Jacob Susskind. Barks and Susskind have both been with the team for a year, while Lipinski and Ram will be in their first season. Lipinski, a freshman who had a standout career at Annapolis Area Christian School, was initially a walk-on before being awarded with a scholarship prior to the season.

Coaching Staff

Maryland’s coaching staff has attacked the recruiting trail with zeal since coming together in May of 2011. Turgeon and assistants Scott Spinelli, Bino Ranson and Dalonte Hill signed a consensus top-20 class this season and have their sights set on another highly ranked class for next season. Having been together for a year, their comfort level has also increased. “This year we are much more comfortable, last year we really didn’t know what we were getting into,” said Turgeon. “The guys didn’t know us and we didn’t know them. At least the guys we have now we have coached for a year or recruited for a year so the comfort level there is much different from last year. We are comfortable at Maryland now and with the league.”

Schedule

The Terps will start the season off with a bang by playing defending national champion Kentucky at the brand new Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y., on Nov. 9. After the season opener, Maryland will play 12 of its next 14 games at home, with the lone road trip coming on Nov. 27 at Northwestern as part of the ACC/Big 10 Challenge. The Terps also face George Mason on Dec. 2 at the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C. For the first time, Maryland will be playing an 18-game league schedule, including home-and-homes with Duke, North Carolina, Florida State and Virginia. The Terps play host to Duke on Feb. 16 and North Carolina on March 6. “The 18-game schedule will be a real challenge,” said Turgeon. “We have Duke and Carolina twice again along with Florida State and Virginia, so four of the top six teams picked in the league we have twice, which will be hard.”

“It’s completely different. When I took over the job at Maryland, I didn’t know much about the ACC, but now I have a feel for the league and the coaches and what it takes to be successful at this level. Our coaches are much more comfortable together. We also have some returning players and that helps teach the new players how to do it. And then for the first time this summer we were able to practice together, so we’re much further along than we’ve ever been and I’m much more comfortable standing up here today than I was a year ago.”

On the roster and how he feels about it:

“It’s pretty remarkable. We only signed three players early. To be able to add the pieces that we added late has really helped do some things to add depth. I feel comfortable with our team. Pe’Shon [Howard] is healthy, so he has been able to practice at full speed. It’s been a little over a week, so it’s great to have him back. It’s amazing how much better the four returning scholarship players have become, Nick [Faust], Pe’Shon [Howard], Alex [Len] and James [Padgett]. Their improvement and understanding of what the coaching staff wants is great. We feel good, just like every other team in the league. Standing here today compared to a year ago, I feel like we’re much further along, but we’ll see if it translates.”

On the freshman standouts this summer:

“The four young kids that are coming in, and Logan, they have all done something. We don’t get a lot of time, only two hours a week, so we had 16 total hours to work with them. The real differences were in the weight room and in conditioning. We saw Shaq shed about 20 pounds and Charles Mitchell shed about 15 pounds. They are totally different players now than they were when we got them in June when they just finished high school. Jake Layman was set back a little bit because he was on the U.S. team. He really had a great September and early October for us. He has come a long ways. Seth Allen is a big time athlete. He is a much better defender than I thought he was. None of them stick out any more than the others. When you sign players, you aren’t really sure, but you hope and I think they are all just a little bit better than I was anticipating, which is a good sign. We still have a long ways to go. Logan Aronhalt had a knee and a back injury all last season, so it affected his summer game a little bit. He also lost some weight and looks good. He’s a big time shooter that has really helped us in practice. Evan Smotrycz can’t play this year, obviously, but he has really practiced well. He’s been to the tournament and knows what it takes, so he has been a great addition.”

On the challenges the ACC brings:

“The ACC is a lot better than I thought it was going to be and it’s going to be a lot better when we get down the road. It’s a different league that is longer, taller and a more athletic league than the one I came from. It is a little more of a finesse league than a power league. I wouldn’t say it’s a learning curve, it’s just something to get used to and lets us know who we need to recruit to be successful. We have a style of play that I think no matter what league we play in, we’re going to be successful, and you’re going to start seeing that as time goes on.”

On how close the team is to being physical players and great shooters:

“When you’re little, you like big guys around you, so when I was a player at KU I hung around the offensive linemen in case there was any trouble. I like big basketball players. I think skill is what I like most. Guys who can dribble, pass and shoot and understand the game. It just so happened that we signed a couple of bigger guys, Shaq and Charles. We have a tremendous strength and conditioning coach, Kyle Tarp, who does a great job with our guys. I don’t go out and literally look for big and strong guys, I look for good basketball players who know the game and I think we found that. Guys who have instincts for the game – you can’t teach that. Guys either have that or they don’t and we have guys who have that.”

On Seth Allen:

“He’s such a dynamic scorer. When the ball is his hands, he can really get it to the rim. He has been shooting better. When you watched him play, you saw that he’s going to be a dynamic player offensively. He plays the ball so sharp and so low. I don’t know what a world-class athlete looks like, but he’s close. He can really cover a lot of ground and he has really good body control.”

On how different it will be to have more frontcourt options:

“The good thing is we have James Padgett and Alex Len, so that’s nice. They have both improved tremendously and we know James improved a lot during the season last year. Alex had a tough season when he missed the first 10 games and the language barrier. He’s a totally different player. So, you have those two players who I have a lot of confidence in. You also have Shaq who was highly recruited and he’s a big strong kid who likes to hit things. He’s fun to coach and a great kid. He gives us a dynamic that we didn’t have before and he has lost a lot of weight. He’s now 262 pounds, so now he is an above the rim guy, which is pretty impressive. Charles Mitchell I think is one of the most underrated guys in the country because he was a little overweight but he has a great feel for the game. He had the best practice yesterday because he was at his lowest weight total. We can also move Jake to that position if we had to. We will practice Jake there. We have tremendous depth there.”

On team chemistry:

“I think our chemistry is great right now, but we haven’t played a game. The great thing right now is everyone thinks they are starting. Our upperclassmen and returning players have done a great job of accepting our new guys. The guys who are still around have tremendous character and the guys who were recruited also have tremendous character, so they blend together nicely. The guys also don’t have egos, so they look you in the guy and listen to you and the upperclassmen, so when you have that the chemistry is going to be good. The biggest concern of mine was leadership. What I have learned after the last few weeks has been that there are a lot more built-in leaders in our group than I thought. There are guys who will actually lead the team, but then there are guys who are capable of being leaders, so that’s exciting for me. I think we’re on the right track. You can’t fake chemistry. Some teams try to, but I don’t think we will have to. I think it’s going to be tremendous all year. That’s one thing I feel great about.”

On expectations of Pe’Shon Howard:

“I expect him to be a heck of a lot better. Sometimes when you are able to practice with a coach, but then get hurt and have to just watch, you become a much better player. Already his leadership skills are much better and he is not as moody on the floor. He has only been back for a week and a half, and we are trying to teach him how to make the easy plays. I expect him to be tremendously better. I would tell him, ‘I know it stinks that you are hurt, but this will help you. Sit back and study me and watch what I want, and understand what the team needs you to do.’ He has been hurt for seven months, but he is already better in the past week and a half than he was at any time last year. “

On starting the season with Kentucky:

“I don’t think we will do anything different in preparing. I imagine it has caught the boy’s attention a little bit more. I would like to think they are just excited to be basketball players and to start the season because it goes quickly, but I am sure our guys are excited about that game. It is just a great opportunity for us. John Calipari is a friend of mine, and John was at Kansas when I was a player. Literally I had just landed in Maryland, and I got off the plane and my phone rings ands its Cal and he offers me this game, and it’s a no-brainer for me. As a friend he didn’t have to do that, but I am very appreciative and this is a big game for us. This game will be a great help to prepare us for our season and hopefully for postseason play.”

On first impressions of Seth Allen, Jake Layman and Logan Aronhalt:

“It has been up and down, but it has been good. The more we run, the better Jake and Seth are. Logan has a good feel for being in the right spot for us. The young guys, excluding Logan, heads are spinning a little bit because of all of the things being thrown at them. We just try to cram as much as we can in the two hours that we have. We have thrown a lot at them, but I expect them to just keep getting better.”

On being off the radar in preseason polls:

“The national spotlight does come as the season moves forward, and we know that we are going to get better and continue to recruit. The head-coaching job at Maryland is a great job, and I expect press to come later. I think we are using it now more as motivation. One magazine had us as pick number 10, and that was all I needed. We will have our opportunities playing against Duke, Northwestern, North Carolina and George Mason. I have coached teams that have been picked eighth and ninth in the NCAA tournament, and hopefully this is one of those teams that can accomplish that. We will have to stay healthily, but with the talent level we have we will definitely have a chance to be a post season team, especially if the players continue to work the way they have been working.”

On his top priority as the season approaches:

“We will have to get a lot better. I think we have already established things like practicing hard. Even though it has really only been for an hour at a time, we have established that we are going to be tough-minded and a man-to-man defensive team. Are we playing tremendously yet? No, but we are in the process of improving. I think what you will learn about me is that our team is going to continue to grow as the year goes on. November 9th is not very far away, and we have a lot to do between now and then. I imagine neither team is going to be great then because both teams have a lot of new guys, but I imagine both teams will try really hard. Is there one thing? No, there are a lot of things that we need to get better at, but we are on track to getting everything done.”

On having Eric Hayes on staff:

“I am so glad that he is here. From day one Eric bought into me being here even though he played for Coach Williams. He loves Maryland and he loves Coach Williams, but he bought into what I am doing and decided he wanted to be a coach. I am in a position to help him become a better instructor, and he will decide over these next two years as he is in graduate school if coaching is something he really wants to pursue. I am sure it has already been an eye-opening experience for him. From day one I have said Maryland basketball is not about me, it is about the players, especially former players. I want to coach for as long as I can, and hopefully get as many former players feeling like they are a part of Maryland basketball every day. I am really glad Eric is here, and right now he has his eyes wide-open trying to learn. He is a great kid, and he will definitely make us better because he can talk to the players and relate more to them because he has been there and done that. He won games while he was here, and that is really important. We have to teach this team how to win at a high level, and Eric will be a big help in doing that.”

Senior Guard Logan Aronhalt

On transferring as a senior:

“It’s weird. I don’t really know who to turn to for advice because there are not many people that have been in this situation before. I think it’s fun, trying to come in and learn the new guys and learn as much as I can as quickly as possible while leading.”

On how he expects to contribute:

“Having [Alex Len, Shaquille Cleare and James Padgett] inside makes my job that much easier. They’re going to clog up the lane and teams are really going to have to double down. If they can create open shots for me, then it makes my job really easy. I think my balance is what I’m going to be out there for.”

On choosing Maryland:

“How could I not? It was an awesome experience playing here last year [with Albany]. The campus, the environment, the tradition — it’s amazing.”

Sophomore Guard Nick Faust

On opening the season against Kentucky:

“We’re looking at it as the first game [of the season], but we’re not putting too much pressure on it. It’s definitely a big game for us. Defeating them would definitely put us on the map from an early start.”

On leadership:

“We’ve got guys like Pe’Shon [Howard], [James Padgett] and John Auslander who are older guys. But me being a big contributor to the team [last season], I definitely take on a kind of leadership role to help us become the best we can.”

On the team’s chemistry:

“When I first got in last year, I definitely felt as though the team was separated — not separated, but we definitely weren’t as close as we are now. All of us bond together, even the new guys that came in. We’re just more together; we’re one.”

Sophomore Center Alex Len

On starting the season:

“I’m really excited for this season. We’ve got a lot of new guys, so everybody expects the season to be a lot better than last year.”

On the team:

“We’ve got a lot of talent. We will see after the first game against Kentucky where we are as a team.”

On starting the season against Kentucky:

“I’m excited for the game. It’s a good challenge for the team. They were the national champions last year, so it’s kind of exciting to play the champions.”

On adjusting to a new country:

“I had some struggles last year with language; adjusting to a new culture; to the game. Now I feel much more confident than I did last year.”

Junior Guard Pe’Shon Howard

On rehabbing his knee:

“I’m pretty close. The rehab is picking up; I wouldn’t even call it rehab, I just call it an extra workout. I come here in the morning three days a week. I’m just trying to get my strength back, trying to get my flexibility all the way back. I do most of the workouts; I can pretty much do anything. So it’s just trying to get back in the flow and get my confidence back.”

On Nick Faust, Seth Allen and Logan Aronhalt:

“Nick grew up last year playing point guard. The first time I was hurt he was a little shaky, but the second time you saw how he had matured. He played really well. He’s not just one of the better players in the ACC, but he’s one of the better point guards in the ACC.

“Seth came in and he’s really talented. I don’t know if people knew that. He’s going to help us a lot this year; he’s really explosive. He knows the game, he can make plays and he’s not really shy. He’s really aggressive, kind of like how Terrell [Stoglin] and I were my freshman year.

“Logan can really shoot it. He comes from a winning team, so he helps everyone out a lot with the mindset. It’s a good fit for all of them.”

On the physicality of the team:

“Last year, when we played North Carolina, we hung in there with them. Just at the end of the game, their physicality, their length and strength; they kind of wore us down. With the team now, I think we have a team that can compete with that. You see the guys we have now, they’re long, and they’re strong. Our defense is going to be able to stretch the floor. We’re going to be able to rebound and get out and have an up-tempo style. Once everybody gets adjusted to the little things we do as Maryland Basketball, how we box out and things like that, I’m really excited for the team and what we can do.”

On team chemistry:

“I think we all knew coming in that chemistry was going to be a main thing we had to work on. It was a big adjustment because there are so many new faces, but everyone is on the same page. Everyone is looking to win games and play their hardest, so I think that is why it is so easy for us all to gel. We are always together; everyone lives next door to each other so we are always hanging out together. Our chemistry is stronger than I ever thought it could be. Coach really looks at the players he recruits to make sure everyone fits.”

On biggest team improvement from last year:

“Everything has improved from last year. Physically and mentally everyone is stronger. We all have the same goal; everyone wants to win. Physically, we are a lot longer, stronger and faster. We have much more depth in our team this year; we have a lot of talented athletes. We really have a full team now.”

On the benefit from sitting out for most of last season:

“It really helped me grow up. I was able to sit back and watch and learn what kind of person coach wanted running his team. I was able to learn a lot from sitting on the sidelines, and I am now able to translate that knowledge to the court.”

On being coached by Mark Turgeon for one year:

“I feel like I have a head start on a lot of the players. I am not as far back in the learning process, so I can personally push ahead a little further. We aren’t just learning basic plays anymore; we are able to get deeper into the playbook. Coach doesn’t have to spend as much time on basic instruction anymore.”

Sophomore guard/forward Dez Wells

On attending the University of Maryland:

“It’s like a home away from home. It was an easy choice for me to make.”

On his new teammates:

“When you go through something like I did, you always want to be around those who have your best interest at heart. It made it a lot easier on me. [I] didn’t have to worry about finding people up here who I could trust, because I already had them up here. It just made everything so much easier to transition on the court. I knew a lot of the guys from AAU. “

On his best friend Terps’ WR Nigel King and his new teammates:

“Nigel King has helped me a lot. He’s my best friend in my whole life. [I’ve] known Nick Faust for four years now. He helped me a lot; he’s just been there for me if I ever need anything. Just come in and feel comfortable right away. On the court, that comes naturally. Off the court has been the hardest part for me.”

On what he brings on and off the court to the team:

“Just a voice of reason. Somebody who’s been in really, really tough games, tough away games, who’s played against some really good teams and has played with really good players. I’ve been on teams with great players, so I know how you have to respond in games, to every possession. The intensity and the attention to detail was the most important things I learned. I can be an extension of coach Turgeon on the court.”

Freshman guard Seth Allen

On what he is most excited for this season:

“I am most excited for the Kentucky game, being able to play with all the fans and representing Woodbridge and Maryland.”

On practice:

“We’re learning plays and everyone is getting better with team chemistry, so it’s coming along.”

On why he committed to Maryland:

“I really trusted coach Turgeon. You always have to trust your coach in college because they get you where you want to go after college basketball wise. A point guard and a coach really have to be close together, so I really trusted him. He also got along with my family, I’m a big family guy, and it’s close to them so they can come watch me play. So those are big keys for me coming here.”

On Pe’Shon Howard’s return:

“He’s been playing great. He’s happy he has returned. He has a lot of energy and he understands he’s coming off a knee injury, so it’s a little sore and stuff. He knows his body better than anyone else, so he knows what he can and cannot do, but being fully cleared is great. He’s like a brother to me, so it’s like having your brother on the court. We go together really well.”

Freshman Center Shaquille Cleare

On dealing with pressure:

“Being a college athlete, you’re going to be under the spotlight regardless. I mean, the attention is going to be fine. I’m just here to play basketball, and hang banners for the University of Maryland. Attention will come with that, but I’m prepared for it. I don’t go with the hype. I just want to come in here and work hard, and do what Coach Turgeon asked me. People are saying they expect great things from me, but I just try to stay positive and work hard every day.”

On James Padgett’s leadership:

“James has been a big brother for us ever since we came on campus this summer. He’s proven himself to be a great leader, and a great team captain. We look up to James a lot. During the summertime, I was struggling with the offense and defense, and he would pull me aside, put his arm around me, and teach me the right way to do things. He’s experienced and he’s played on the collegiate level for four years. I look up to James a lot. He’s been a great leader for this team, and for myself.”

On his transition to the college game:

“The game is more physical, and that’s my kind of game. I’m a physical player, and I’ll enjoy playing in the ACC.”

Freshman Forward Jack Layman

On what he can bring to the team:

“I think I can bring my shooting. We need that this year. We need somebody to knock down shots, and I can bring that.”

On what he needs to work on:

“For me, it’s just knowing every play perfectly so I can run the offense fluidly.”

On how his experience playing for the national team helped him:

“It definitely got me ready for the speed and physicality of the game. I have a lot to look forward to, so it should be good.”

Junior Forward John Auslander

On how he can contribute to the team:

“I just want to help the team, and take on more of a leadership role. I think it’s important that I start being more vocal and helping guys, because I do know what Coach [Turgeon] wants: help them understand the principles that we’re trying to instill, and just keep bringing it in practice with energy.”

On why he is respected in the locker room:

“The biggest thing is knowledge of the game. If you understand what Coach wants and it’s instinctual to you, the guys can see it. Also, if you’re bringing it every day, and also trying to get others to bring it, it’s huge. I think it’s rubbed off, and people have started to respect my opinions.”

“Teach them the little ins and outs. Try to teach them where to be. Things they can do to make the games simpler. Slow the game down for them. Help them understand plays. Just do whatever I can, like a big brother would.”

On becoming a better leader:

“I have to speak up, give everyone advice, help everyone when I can. If I see something wrong, I have to tell them what they were doing wrong, and how they can correct it. We have a lot of young guys, and I know more than they do because I’ve been around for a couple years. Just try to help out, and be as much of a leader as I can.”

COLLEGE PARK, Md. – Terrell Stoglin was given the Len Bias Award as the most valuable player on the team Tuesday at the University of Maryland men’s basketball awards banquet held at the Riggs Alumni Center.

Senior Sean Mosley earned three awards at the ceremony, which was attended by more than 250 people. Mosley got the Steve Blake Award for most assists, the Walt Williams Coaches’ Award and the Greivis Vasquez Award for most inspirational player.

James Padgett earned the Len Elmore Award for most rebounds, while Nick Faust won both the Juan Dixon Award for most improved and the Buck Williams Award for most valuable defensive player.